32% said rollmy. 7% picked michele bachmann. talked to resolve the debt crisis continue behind closed doors. the president says he is willing to accept a short-term increase in government borrowing limits. >> but that would be only if both sides reach agreements. they need a few extra days to get that legislation passed. abc's john hendren is following the latest developments. >> reporter: i i is another day that begins without an agreement on the nation's credit limit. but president obama says it could be different. president obama says if washington were more civil, crises like the debt debacle on capitol hill would be rarer. >> i do think that the slash and burn, take no prisoners, no compromise no matter what approach to politics is one of the reasons why congress has such a difficult time getting things done. >> reporter: in an interview with abc's los angeles affiliate kabc, president obama says he still has hopes for changing the tone in the capital. >> the way we run campaigns

these days, the language that's used, the demonization of the other side, i think that has broken down some of that trust re in washington. but the american people expect us to rebuild it. >> reporter: that message doesn't seem to have reached capitol hill where tempers, especially democratic tempers, are flaring. >> america no longer has a two-party system. one of our two parties has morphed into a kind of a cult. >> this is a colossal waste of time. >> what a sham. what a scam. >> reporter: with less than two weeks to go until the government runs out of money on august 2nd, the white house meetings and hope for an 11th hour deal continue. in the west wing and the capitol many of pinning their hopes on the gang of six. come up with a plan to cut the the nation's credit limit. rate rob and peggy? the government is warning about the possibility of terrorism at the nation's

utilities, including chemical plants and oil refineries. a new report says al qaeda-linked extremists have been hired inside some of those facilities to actually work there. it also says that outsidersrsave attempted to solicit employees for damaging physical and cyber attacks. the army psychiatrist charged in the ft. hood shootings will face a military trial in march of next year. nidal hasan was arraigned at a military court in texas on 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder. he did not enter a plea and it's not clear if he ever will. hasan dismissed his civilian attorney because he wants three military lawyers to represent him instead. media moug angle rupert murdoch is back in the u.s. this morning after testifying about the phone-hacking scandal in london. the british prime minister then took murdoch's place. >> reporter: the british. they are so polite. except when it comes to politics. >> the reply that he sent -- >> reporter: that's david

cameron, the british prime minister. >> you know -- aah -- >> reporter: facing 138 withering questions from the opposition. >> he just doesn't get it. >> reporter: no american president gets subjected to a verbal pounding like this. >> he should apologize for the catastrophic error of judgment he made. >> reporter: the issue is cameron too close to rupert murdoch and his now-tainted company? >> it shows my staff behaved entirely properly. [ jeering ] >> reporter: they call this a debate. but to the speaker of the house, it is, well, childish. >> calm themselves, keep on an even keel, it's better for their health and the house. >> reporter: this scandal may not seem like a big deal from afar but it's already left the prime minister scrambling, the head of scotland yard has resigned, and a skating parliamentary report accused rupert murdoch's company of deliberately trying to thwart a criminal investigation into the illegal activities of his

newspaper here. >> isn't it time that we sent this non-tax paying murdoch back from whence he came? >> reporter: the prime minister didn't have to. murdoch boarded his private jet to fly home to the u.s. no doubt happy to leave london and all the turbulence behind. jeffrey cough rkofman, abc news loloon. >> certainly not over yet though as this continues to grow and we're investigating issues here. people, perhaps 9/11 victims, who might have had their cell phones hacked. >> it's scary. judging by the atmosphere there. and the number two, headlines in australia this morning, now that country may be stepping into the investigation to see if phone hacking occurred on their turf. so this thing's snowballing out of control. >> that's for sure. agreed. although you can hop in your private jet and head home. >> slithering boa constrictor. >> but there it was, five feet long in all its glory. the city's antivenom unit moved in and scooped the thing out.

the reptile turned out to be pretty friendly and nonvenomous. >> this kind of snake if you can believe it is native to madagascar. animal control officials believe it's a lost pet. the snake didn't have a microch microchip. fining an owner could be a a challenge. animal control officers plan to take care of that snake for now. if you live in a tiny apartment and you have a snake that should be in madagascar, maybe that's not the best idea. >> how do you feel about that snake? >> i didn't say get a boa constrictor. get a cuddly puppy. >> you wouldn't bring it into your house and feed it? >> take care of it, put it somewhere it feels more comfortable instead of the sidewalk. >> good luck, dude. more "world news now" coming up after the break.

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for many of us retirement is a long way off. to plan for the inevitable all you have to do is ask your boss one simple question. >> that's right, it's a question today's retirees are asking as well. >> reporter: grant offterhar reveling in the traditional perks of retirement. travel. the time with hit family. volunteer work. but here's another very modern picture of his golden years. he's actually still at work. >> i don't ever think i will retire completely. >> you'll never retire? >> i'm a scientist. i have been all my life. >> reporter: grant is lucky. a ph.d. in atmospheric science, he works for aerospace, a company that supports nasa programs and one that's investing heavily in a new trend -- bridge jobs.

part-time jobs that allow employees to ease into retirement. so the company is so smart now, the company's realized we don't want to lose these brains. we don't want to lose these brains. in fact, that's what we provide to the in fact. >> reporter: grant is continuing to use his, workiki 10 to 20 hours a week on projects or guiding colleagues. >> intellectually, i want to stay active. >> reporter: in fact, 80% of boomers say when retirement day comes, they'll still be on the job. in some cases becausese they wa to be. in many cases because they have to be. and experiments say that bridge jobs can help with another issue. 73% of boomers claim social security before they're 65, and look at the math. if you're 62 years old earning $60,000 a year, you'd get $1,126 a month. if you wait until you're 70, $2,123 a month. but waiting can be hard on the human psyche. >> if iay to you, would you like $1 today or $3 a year from

now? most people say, i want $1 today. >> reporter: bridge jobs may make that delayed gratification possible. grant, for one, applauds the opportunity. >> i am very happy. i made the right decision to go ahead and stop the full-time work and move to this casuaua program. it's a wonderful transition for me and i feel real good about it. >> repepter: clair shipman, abc news, washington. >> we have a great chat going on about this now. some people are saying i'm going to end up having to work until i'm 70. some people are saying 80. some people are listing their resources and what they can do. other people are saying, call me, i'm looking to hire. >> we're making magic here on facebook. it's our question of the day. that guy's right. obviously it's tempting to wait until you have more money. but after you spend 35, 45 years in the workforce, you want to get out, you've earned it. >> everybody wonders what will happen to social security, lots of questions there. make sure to pop by the website,

check it out. the interview question that really kind of ticked off paris hilton. >> she didn't like this, not one bit. it upset her so much she walked away from the interview. it was quite a moment, that's coming up.

time now for our -- ready -- favorite story of the day. there you go. say and it they do the stamp. we'll get it down. >> eventually. >> one of these days. >> paris hilton is not known -- is known to use the word hot to describe things she likes. things got a little too hot for the reality star during an interview with abc's dan hase ris. take a look. >> reporter: paris hilton was the first, the original celebutante, practically the inventor of that thoroughly modern phenomenon, being famous for being famous. now, though, this particular marketplace hahabecome rather crowded with people like hilton's former protege and sometimes frenemy, kim

kardashian, eating up a lot of the oxygen. try bringing any of this up with hilton, however, and things get a little tense. do you ever worry about your moment having passed? do you want to wrap up? we'll show you how this situation resolved itself in a moment. but first, let's go back to the beginning of our interview, which took place at hilton's newly renovated housen los angeles. >> can we move the cat away? >> reporter: things started on a playful note with no fewer than three interruptions from one or another of her 17 house pets. hilton is actually the head of a global business with stores in 31 countries, selling everything from handbags to beauty products to perfumes. she's got 13 scents which, according to her publicists, have made more than $1 billion. why do you work so hard? >> i like being able to do whatever i want, to buy whatever i want, and to not have to ask

for permission from my parents like i've seen from my other ens who -- they're adults but they live likee children. >> reporter: but while hilton, who turned 30 in february, is eager to show the world she's a grownup now, her new reality show "the world according to paris" on the oxygen network shows her engaged in her usual high jinks. inhabiting an ecosystem where paparazzi are as omni present as pigeons in manhattan, where shopping is the dominant form of hunting and gathering. >> where is my other boxes, lexi? >> reporter: the show does have some serious, even searing scenes. and you are my first baby. >> reporter: but while it has revealing moments, the ratings have been dismal. which has many entertainment writers asking whether hilton's run, which started at age 16, may now be over. do you worry at types that the people who have followed in your footsteps, like kim kardashian, are overshadowing you? >> no, not at all. >> there's been some talk about

the ratings in the show being low. has that upset you? >> no. >> never a feeling of, do you ever worry about -- do you ever worry about your moment having passed? do you want to wrap up? >> i was curious about one thing -- >> reporter: what followed was a long, heated conversation with hilton and her publicist. >> well, i don't want all this being used -- >> reporter: after which she agreed to speak with me again. >> i've been in this business for 15 years now. so it's been a very long time. and just like any other business person or spn in industry, it's always important to reinvent yourself and comeep with new projects. >> that's an entire house filled with to haves? >> reporter: by the end of our time together hilton seemed to have cooled down. she showed me her massive doghouse. >> it's basically a replica of my house. inside is moldings and furniture and a chandelier and lighting and heat and air conditioning. >> are and even sent me off with

a hug. >> thanks for having us. >> thank you. >> she obviously did not like some of the lines of questioning there. >> all fair questions -- oh. peg in a former life. ♪

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inspired by athletic wear, only stayfree has thermocontrol to wick away moisture. so you're dry and comfortable up to 8 hours. stayfree. "world news now" delivers your "morning papers." >> all right, first things first here. you get a new job, they do the credit report, they do the criminal check -- >> check your facebook page. >> there's a year-old startup there called social intelligence. basically what this does is investigate your online activities for the past seven years. a prospective employer will look for racist remarks, reference to drugs, sexually explicit photos, text messages or videos, anything rant displays of weapons or bombs, any violent activity. but the guy says, look, we're not detectives, all we assemble

is what is publicly available on the internet today. meaning you leave a lot of footprints when you're online, be careful, employers are checking you out. >> even stuff that you're like, i cannot believe that's on there, people can find it out. in this era of foreclosures and short sales there are a lot of abandoned homes. this man used an incredibly obscure lot in texas to pay 16 bucks for a mansion. take a look at this house. it cost about $300,000 normally. well, he was squatting, ken kenneth robinson, squatting in this house because it had been abandoned. he filed a $16 piece of paperwork that basically said if you file this piece of paper it negates whoever owns the property. since e was in foreclosure, the owners didn't have the money to fight it. this guy now lives in this house legally for 16 bucks. >> the law's the law. 16 buck mansion, enjoy the life. you and i are grammar nerds. there's this new list out there of americanisms that the british really hate. so we picked our five favorite

here. the one, firststne is, it is what it is. >> i say that ul at time. >> i don't think that's that bad. also, i'm good. as opposed to, i'm well. >> really, whenn you ask somebody, how are you doing? many people say, i'ming to good. some man does good, people do well. >> a half hour instead of half an hour. people say half hour. and then my bad. after you make a mistake. everyone says that, it's common. that annoys the british. then the last one weed h ehad, could careless. >> if you could care less, you could care less. if you could not care less, you could not care less. now to our announcement of the morning. >> i wanted to let our viewers know that this will be the last time that i see you this week. because i'll be missing you on these overnight hours, everyone. i've decided to move on from the show for a different project. i did want to tell everybody how wonderful it's been to work from them, how nice it's been to hear

from the viewers who have been up with us. thanks to everybody on the show !!!xhc=7wl

this morning on "world news now," swept away. the waterfall tragedy in one of america's most picturesque national parks. the search for three missing tourists who fell into a rushing river at yosemite resumes at daybreak but park rangers predict the worst. it's thursday, july 21st. >> from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning, i'm peggy bunker. >> i'm rob nelson. despite all the warning signs at yosemite, witnesses say a couple got a little too close to the rushing water and then got into trouble. another tourist tried to help and he was also swept away. park rangers and visitors at this busy destination simply

can't believe what happened. >> it's really amazing. of course the water levels are so high because we have this incredible winter and so therefore really, really strong rushing waters. just a tragic story. >> they're not expecting to find survivors. also coming up, we're talking about campaign headaches. what a top doctor says about michele bachmann's migraines. while our news poll reveals if she has a chance in next year's presidential election. who knew that a little headache could get so much attention. it's sort of the conversations around it that have really got people talking. >> what i like the story does point out there have been other presidential and vice presidential contenders who have major, maim, farar more severe than migraines who have made it okay. details coming up in just a second. on top of that later this half hour respect he played a president on tv. now actor martin sheen wants his voice heard in real life in washington, d.c. now the sheen family on many levels has had very interesting personal lives almost overshadow their careers in some ways.

martin's had his battles with addiction. we know charlie has not had the easiest -- >> he hasn't exactly been quiet, which a charlie. the tragedy at yosemite. visiting the park with a church group are presumed dead this morning. >> eyewitnesses say they climbed over the guardrail to take pictures when they were swept into a 300-foot water fool. >> reporter: the trail leading to vernal fall is one of the most popular trails in yosemite national park. but it was temporarily closed tuesday afternoon after park rangers say three hikers climbed over the barricade and into the water where they were swept away. >> i saw the man's eyes as he was going over the waterfall and that was devastating. >> very dananrous area. it's signed "danger." we have a stick figure, person in mid-air. >> reporter: 22-year-old hormiz

david and his friends ignored the signs, climbed into the water and slipped, setting off a chain reaction. >> apparently they were taking photos, playing in the water. one of the males lost his footing, started to slide down. the second male tried to rescue him. and also lost his footing. then the third person, the female, did. and unfortunately it was a chain reaction of events and all three were swept over vernal fall. >> i couldn't process why they were in the water when i first saw it. you know, it was -- because the current was moving so fast. >> two, they were holding onto each other, one was alone floating through the current. the reason why i looked was this woman was screaming and running along the edge of the water.r. >> reporter: while search and rescue crews scoured the water, visitors we talked with expressed their concerns and frustrations. >> it's just sad. when people know the water's high. and think they're not going to be the ones, it's safe out

there. and it's not. >> reporter: so far this year, there have been six water-related deaths in yosemite national park. in i don't sell te, linda muma for abc news. >> the guy trying to help out gets swept away as well, heart-breaking. >> you think the first thing everybody should pay attention to is the rails as they were saying. especially this these parks. the priest that knows these people very well is praying for a quick recovery their bodies. that's what everybody will be looking for when daybreak comes this morning. they'll be looking very closely. >> they had a vigil last night as well to remember those victims. shifting gears now, on the east coast an equally scary spill into rushing waters has a much happier ending thanks to a tour boat crew. a woman hiking near the whirlpool rapids in niagara falls reached down to touch the swirling water then fell in. witnesses sasashe disappeared under the water but resurfaced. she was eventually rescued by a tour boat crew who used cpr to revive her. with the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks just a couple of months away here, abc news

has learned that thousands of chemical and nuclear plants are being warned about a possible al qaeda attata. the report comes from the department of homeland security. it warns utilities about would-be terrorists who have been hired to work inside the facilities. there are also some serious implications. >> there are a lot of very sensitive facilities where someone could get a job on the inside, can get access to a control room, flip a switch, which causes an electric power grid to short circuit, caused a pipeline to explode. >> can you imagine that. as an example, officials point to an attempt by a worker to sabotage a water treatment plant. that happened in arizona earlier this year. >> what kind of background checks are going on. turning to politics now. in our abc news/"washington post" poll just released shows the president now pulling ahead of his closest gop competitor.. 51% said they'd pick president obama over republican candidate mitt romney. in june they were tied. republican-leaning voters were asked which candidite could beat

the president next year. 32% said romney. 7% picked michele bachmann. there are also still questions about michele bachmann's migraines and whether they should be considered a campaign issue. as abc's jonathan karl reports the congressional doctor is providing new details. >> reporter: the letter from the top doctor in congress says bachmann has had extensive evaluation. your migraines occur infrequently. when you do have a migraine, you are able to control it well with medication. the issue was first raised monday by the conservative daily caller website which quoted anonymous sources saying bachmann frequently suffers from incapacitating headaches. she was still facing questions about the report. >> well, we had released a statement on this issue and the focus that i've had again is on the fact as commander in chief, i'm going to make sure that we get our fiscal house in order. >> reporter: bachmann acknowledges occasional migraines. her campaign points out her packed schedule hasn't been affected a bit. tim pawlenty, the republican

candidate most threatened by bachmann's rise, pounced on the report. >> going to be president of the united states, you've got to be able to do the job, every day, all the time. there's no realtime off in that job. >> reporter: the issue touched off a furious debate, especially because migraines are more common among women. >> what's next? men strap cramps, hot flashes? >> reporter: bach machine's heheth issues seem to pale in comparison to others. john mccain battled cancer. joe biden had brain eurysms. dick cheney already had three heart attacks when they ran. but they all had did answer questions. brian ross wasaslocked by bachmann's staff when he asked if the headaches affected her job performance. >> have you ever had to step down because of her migraines? >> reporter: bachmann's friend and fellow congressman steve king told abc news she is fit enough for the job. >> i think if you would watch her public appearances and see how she performs in each one of them, there would be no clue of such a thing in her public appearances.

>> reporter: there's no law requiring presidential candidates to reveal anything about theiei medical histories. but if past practice is any guide, from the last several presidential campaigns, whoever the republican nominee is this time around will be expected to release extensive medical records. jonathan karl, abc news, capitol hi hill. >> it's true that we have had political leaders who have had very serious health issues that sometimes the public never even knkn about because they kept a lid on it. then again this is something that seems to be gaining steam. what's the harm inning is the question? has the migraine ever kept you from work? >> we'll see if she does. john karl says he follows her closely on the campaign trail and no one works harder or more vig rulesly out there. other news now, the postmaster general is pushing to cut back mail delivery to five days a week. he says the post office lost $8 billion last year and is on track for a similar loss this year. that's because mail volume is

down mostly because of people using the internet for letters and to pay their bills. it is a bittersweet morning for astronauts and crew members as the final shuttle mission comes to an end. it's the end of the historic shuttle program that dates back to the 1980s. while the crew says good-bye to the shuttle, many nasa employees will be saying good-bye to their jobs. >> reporter: on their last full day aboard the space shuttle "atlantis" the crew practiced landings on a computer laptop, peered out the windows, and read poetry. the men on the ground who will lead "atlantis" back through the landing said thursday morning would be tough. >> i don't think you'd be human if you didn't feel something. every time you feel something you have to remember this thing's not over yet. >> reporter: as the crew prepared for the return home nasa and local officials from the surrounding areas said they were not expecting the massive crowds that gathered for the lage. >> inside the kennedy space center, it's not easy to see. this thing comes down at such a steep angle. >> reporter: for almost 2,300 space shuttle workers, thursday will be their last day on the job.

60 days ago, layoff notices went out. and friday, they will be out the door. at the kennedy space center, kevin oliver for abc news. the unrelenting heat wave making much of the country is now being blamed for nearly two dozen deaths. people in the chicago area are sweating it out in the hottest temps there in six years. as the heat index reading hit 110 in some suburbs, power outages have left thousands of suburb ban homeowners to cope with no ac. good luck to those folks. the elderly are getting much-needed help to stay cool in extreme heat. some organizations are handing out free fans to make them a little more comfortable. volunteers in grand rapids, michigan, delivered fans and set them up for seniors who could use a little break. >> that's for sure. i hope they're big fans. some places are going to need a good breeze there. it is pretty posty. take a look at the forecast for the day right now. some strong stormth with gusty winds, hail and torrential downpours in omaha, kansas city, des moines and chicago.

stormy in northern new england. scattered thunderstorms from new orleans to atlanta. wet in the rockies and the pacific northwest. >> a damp 67 in seattle. 87 in salt lake city. and 107 in phoenix. dallas at 98. omaha 88. detroit 96. mostly 90s all the way from boston down to miami. i love the story. for most of us it's tough to get it all together to head outside for a jog. i come up with every excuse under the sun as to why i can't do it. >> that's why i never start, it's easier. there are those who need more, like juggling while jogging, which is called joggling. an arizona woman sethree world records and did so in this intense heat. >> trish evans jogged a 5k, 800 meter and 200 meter. her husband bob fell short of the men's record. >> a couple that jog angles together stays together. i've always said that. >> i'll see if my husband's up

for that. >> more "world news now" coming up right after the break. hó [ female announcer ] experience dual-action power,

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welcome back, ebb. now we turn to a bizarre custody battle that has a florida girl stuck in the middle. on one side is the girl's grandmother and biological father. >> tough story here. on the other side is her legal father and the problem here is that he is a sex offender. and now the rightful guardian. abc's alex stone reports. >> reporter: miranda's mother tris sa cruz died a month after miranda was born. she's almost 4 and has lived with her grandmother. her mother was married to donald coleman, a registered sex offender. he had to registered because he married trista who was only 14

at the time, and pregnant. >> a young girl, fell in love, a thing that happened. >> reporter: coleman had been separated from the mother for years after he learned miranda was not his child. but coleman is by law considered miran miranda's legal guardian. >> i was absolutely appalled, very concerned for the well-being of this little girl. >> reporter: state representative janeted a dips wants to change the law so it doesn't happen again. >> we will work with the department to try to figure out where the loopholes are in the law. >> reporter: miranda's biological father is not giving up. >> i want her back here with me or back with her grandma. that's all i want. i love her and daddy's going to be there for her. >> reporter: now miranda's grandmother is appealing the court's ruling. >> the judge has gave him custody. or guardianship, whatever. how could the judge do that? >> she loves me. she always has, since she was little.

just a family trying to get through life right now. >> reporter: with miranda's 4th birthday approaching her grandmother is not sure she'll be allowed to say happy birthday in person. >> that is really tough. and you think, what isis the be for this little girl? especially if her grandmother's really the one that she's known and who's cared for her since she was such a little girl. >> as you heard in the piece she can appeal the decision, she also can report the case to state snort authorities. coming up, one of the biggest purchases in years. >> american airlines is trading up and buying nearly 500 new jets. what does this mean for passengers? we'll be right back.

♪ big old jet airliner don't

carry me too far away ♪ ♪ >> we're talking about steve miller. all right, a arican airlines has announced a record-breaking deal, speaking of jet airliners, they will dramatically upgrade its entire fleet which is a good thing. >> over the next five years american will buy 460 new full-efficient jets. the airline has been flying the oldest planes in the skies. >> repepter: right now american airlines on average is flying some of the oldest planes of all the major carriers. but with this new historic and unprecedented deal, american airlines is now on course to fly the youngest and the most fuel-efficient planes in five years' time. >> so congratulations to all the people of american airlines. >> reporter: right alongside its partners airbus out of france and boeing, american airlines unveiled its plans to begin leasing as many as 460 new planes within two years. out on the tarmac, those new

narrow-bodied planes. the new airbus a-320 and the boeing 737. inside the new 737-800, travelers will experience wider cabins, larger overhead bins, and more modern lighting that can actually vary with the time of day. for american airlines, these new fuel-efficient planes are a necessity. to fight the airline's number one operating cost, rising fuel prices. in the long run, candidly, our customers are going to have to pay for fuel just like they pay for all the other costs of delivering our product. >> reporter: you're now looking at the boeing dreamliner, a state of the art plane american airlines is also excited about bringing on board. this happening the same day american airlines' company amr is reporting seconon quarter losses of $250 million. it's hoping to turn those numbers around as it moves forward in this deal. in 2017, its next generation of fuel-efficient planes will be 30% more fuel efficient than

currently. >> i think all of us would like to have new planes. not the see-through planes. you were talking about those. i don't want those. >> i'll be happier with a bigger bag of peanuts. hó

that's "west wing" music. >> for very good reason. martin sheen is well known for his many movie and tv roles, especially "the west wing." >> he also is well-known for his movement to battle addiction, a subject that hits close to home. he took that battle to capitol hill. >> reporter: he's perhaps best-known for playing a charismatic president, a moral leader. >> this is a time for american heroes and we reach for the

stars. >> reporter: but martin sheen, the actor, can draw big crowds in d.c. too. >> we all r re -- >> reporter: and charm senators. >> i am not a former president of the united states. though i played one on tv. >> r rorter: he came to shington to testify about a subject that's profoundly personal to him. funding for the treatment of addiction. >> i've been in a 12-step program since 1989. and i give thanks and praise for that. >> reporter: while sheen himself has been clean and sober for more than two decades, it's been a wrenching year watching his son. often trying but unable to help. >> i am on a drug, it's called charlie sheen. >> reporter: though he didn't mention his son's troubles to lawmakers in this february interview with sky news, sheen talked about charlie's battle with addiction. >> he's an extraordinary man. you know, and he's -- if he had cancer, how would we treat him? you know? the disease of addiction is a form of cancer. and you have to have an equal measure of concern and love and

lift them up. so that's what we do for him. >> reporter: that's the message he's brought to capitol hill, arguing passionately against funding cuts for drug courts which steer nonviolent drug offenders away from jail and into treatment. you talked very eloquently about personal experience you'd had with drug courts, peopleou've known, friends. >> that is the most gratifying thing is to see someone, to be rehabilitated, and to become themselves, become free. >> reporter: he was reluctant to talk openly about his son, clearly wanting to give him the space to heal privately. but you could tell his son's problems were very much on his mind. claire shipman, abc news, washington. >> back in 1996, he actually helped create this drug court system in berkeley, california, called options. 120,000 people helped every year, they say. >> the way that it works too in drug court is they combine substance abuse treatment with very close supervision in lieu of jail time.

if you think about it, if you have an addiction problem, throwing somebody in jail is probably not going to do throwing somebody in jail is probably not going to do anything ♪ [male announcer] for america's wounded warriors, sometimes coming home can be a battle in itself. [crowd cheers] the uso provides every american a way y to support our wounded warriors and tir families. join us. visit uso.org to learn howou can make a difference in their lives. what? it's good to be back. the uso. until every one comes home.

this morning on "world news now," insider threat. the federal government's serious new concerns about terrorists sabotaging power plants here in the u.s. >> also why new warnings are linked to what osama bin laden may have been planning on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. it's thursday, july 21st. >> from abc news, this is "world news now." >> and good thursday morning. i'm rob nelson. >> i'm peggy bunker. there have been previous incidents not linked to al qaeda that show just how vulnerable power plants and water utilities can be. w you're going to see why federal agents are concerned about terrorists getting inside these plants. we're talking about people who apply and get employment at some of these facilities which can

really be a threat. >> that's what's jarring is what's going on with the background checks that these folks are allowed in, potential terrorists allowed into a vulnerable infrastructure like that. a lot of questions about that, and scary as we getet closer to the 9/11 anniversary. also ahead in this half hour the shark attack that happened along a north carolina beach. a 6-year-old girl was the victim. she was in water that was only 1 1/2 feet deep. every summer we see these stories. we can't get around it. shark attacks every year. >> 1 1/2 feet deep. that's where you stand if you're afraid of sharks and you're terrified something like that, you stay right there and that's where it happens. her parents right there, saw the whole thing. also coming up this morning in this half hour, she saved her shaving cream pie.d from a we've all seen this now. of course wendi deng is a sudden worldwide sensation. would your spouse do the same thing? that's the question. >> would you jump up to save your man? >> i'd like to think that i would do the exact same thing with as much vigor. in fact, trying to hit that guy so hard that you fall over. >> you have a fight streak in you?

>> i think have a pretty good right hook. >> you could rough somebody up? >> if somebody got under my skin like that. >> we'll go into the parking lot after the show. >> i'll give it a go. the warning going out to power plants and nuclear facilities nationwide. >> would-be terrorists have already been successful in getting jobs inside those plants. abc's chief investigative correspondent brian ross reveal the disturbing new possibilities. >> reporter: u.s. security analysts say sabotage by an insider at a major utility could provide al qaeda with its best opportunity for the kind of massive 9/11 anniversary attack osama bin laden was planning. >> the only way you can actually kill the large-scale number of americans he literally was calculating was through the use of these -- this critical infrastructure. >> reporter: a new intelligence report from the department of homeland security issued just tuesday, called insider threat to utilities, warns violent extremists have, in fact, obtained insider positions. >> there are a lot of very sensitive facilities where someone could get a job on the

inside, can get access to a control room, flip a switch, which causes an electric power grid to short circuit, causes a pipeline to explode. >> reporter: the u.s. was stunned last year in yemen after the arrest of an alleged american recruit to al qaeda, sharif mobley of new jersey, who it turned out had been employed at five different u.s. nuclear power plants in and around pennsylvania, able to pass federal background checks. >> if someone were determined and had the right access, the amount of damage that they could inflict could affect thousands of lives. >> reporter: the possible impact of insider sabotage was made clear earlier this year in mesa, arizona, at a water treatment plant. >> i have basically taken the plant hostage. >> reporter: officials say a disgruntled night shift worker took over the control room and tried to create a giant methane gas explosion. there was no tie to al qaeda and his alleged plot failed. but officials say it highlights how easily one insider in the

right place could create mayhem. al qaeda has already put out the word in its online magazine called "inspire" looking for "brothers who work in sensitive locations." the department of homeland security says there's no specific threat information right now but between now and 9/11, no doubt they'll very much be on guard. brian ross, abc news, new york. and related news now, , e tsa is installing new technology in some airports with passengers' privacy in mind. the new scanners will show only a generic outline of a person's body instead of the image of a naked body. it will be used in about 40 major airports. the old technology outraged some passengers as well as some privacy advocates. the parents of a little girl attacked by a shark along north carolina's outer banks say she's in good condition this morning. but they're still recovering from the nightmare of witnessing the actual attack in shallow water. steve osunsami reports now from ocracoke island.

>> reporter: it was late in the afternoon. the young girl swimming with her father in 1 1/2 feet of water riding on a boogie board when witnesses say the shark struck, seriously wounding her leg. >> the mother yelled that the child had been apparently bit by what appeared to be a shark. >> reporter: the 6-year-old suffered wounds to her calf and foot. they were severe enough that emergency personnel airlifted her to the only trauma hospital in the area, nearly two hours away. she was losing blood but made it there alive. if authorities confirm this is a shark attack, it will be the 13th in the u.s. so far this year. none of them have been fatal, but in 2010, there were two deaths in 36 attacks. earlier this month, carolyn cartwright's 10-year-old daughter cassidy was bitten by a shark on another beach in north carolina. >> when they pulled her out of the water her leg was wide open. and it was just -- a lot of blood. >> reporter: cassidy survived her encounter, which also happened in shallow water. an attack in water only 1 1/2 feet deep seems unusual but most attacks occur close to shore

where sharks like to feed, with millions of people sharing the same shallow waters. shark experts say it's inevitable there will be attacks. what can you do to recuse the risks? swim in groups and avoid swimming or playing in the water during the early even organize nighttime. there's a good reason to swim in groups. sharks like most predators go after victims that are alone. steve osunsami, abc news, surf city, north carolina. >> a lot of good tips. >> yes, definitely. also sometimes they say the boogie board, they mistake the swimmer for a turtle or a seal if you have a wet suit on. >> you'd never think it could happen in shallow water like that. that's the scary part. >> very scary. anyway, she said that -- e told her parents she doesn't like sharks, she does like dolphins a lot better. >> good call. now to india where a frightened and hissing leopard mauled 11 villagers before it was cornered and killed. at one point the big cat bared its fangs and leapt through the air, tackling a man and knocking him down. the leopard held its ground against wildlife officials carrying batons and tranquilizer

guns. finally villagers managed to beat back the cat using knives stones and batons. >> you always tease me for not liking animals. 200 million americans are bracing for another day of blistering heat and humidity now blamed for nearly two dozen deaths. today's danger zone spans two dozen states from the plains to the east coast. abc's matt gutman is in chicago where conditions there have been downright unbearable. >> reporter: chicago's being called an urban heat island. the blazing sun and merciless humidity are cooking this city. >> it's serious out here. >> reporter: it was torturous across half the country and dangerous. in chicago the heat index of 110 degrees stirred memories of 1995, when a heat wave here killed over 700 people. in these conditions, the body even at rest can use a quart of fluid an hour. and for every degree that a person's core temperature rises, the heart goes 15 beats faster per minute. that can cause serious cardiac

stress. at what body core temperature do you stop sweating? >> i believe around 103, 104. so you start getting -- at that point the body's really starting to shut down. >> reporter: and your body literally begins to cook. >> if you don't get medical care, someone could die within half an hour. >> reporter: the first warning sign is when you stop sweating in this extreme heat. the others include headache, dizziness, nausea. so we went around chicago to find out how much risk people were putting themselves in. 100.6. >> 100.6 like i'm running a temperature. >> you're running a bit of a temperature. not much, you're at 99 degrees. >> reporter: doctors are experimenting with a new weapon in the battle against heat. these hypothermal blankets which funnel cool water over the body. every year between 300 to 400 americans die because of the heat. at the hospital, they told u u that it's relatively easy and low-tech to treat. they use wet towels, put it on people's bodies. spritzers to cool them down and

get them wet. and packs of ice in the armpits. things almost everybody has at home. matt gutman, abc news, chicago. >> matt's got to be hot out there, too, jeans on, the shirt. >> i w wondering in that heat. get that man some shorts. whoo. take a look at your thursday forecast. we have some heavy rain, hail, and 70-mile-an-hour winds from kansas city to chicago and portland, maine, and popup thunderstorms around south florida and atlanta, the carolinas, nashville and new orleans. another wet day for much of new mexico and colorado. >> okay, we're also looking at 91 in albuquerque and 94 in sacramento. upper 80s from fargo to omaha. 96 in indianapolis. a sticky 91 here in new york. boy, it feels it too. more 90s in baltimore and miami. december might be months away but it is beginning to look a lot like christmas in denmark. >> how about that. this is where santa is going to be, as you can see. we're talking about some jolly st. ninis from around the globe. they met for the annual santa congress. >> very cool. teams of santas took part in a

series of competitions including gift tossing, an obstacle course, even a bumper car race. >> how about that. in the end, team denmark bagged the coveted best santa team trophy. no word yet if that trophy comes with milk and d okies. i'm sure it does. >> got to leave that for santa. there is no santa, by the way. i don't know if you know that. >> what if there's young children watching, peggy? more "world news now" when we come back. that was cruel. let me tell you about a very important phone call i made. when i got my medicare card, i realized i needed an aarp... medicare supplement nsurance card, too. medicare is one of the great things about turning 65, but it doesn't cover everything.

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well, to many they were the epitome of evil.

we're talking about two adorable little girls. but they were singing songs of hate. and that was about five years ago. >> that's right. now the former neo-nazis say who and what they were was a mistake. as abc's juju chang reports, they now have some new beliefs. ♪ white survival strike force >> reporter: who could forget these young, blond-haired, blue-eyed darlings. we first introduced you to twins lamb and lynx five years ago. the young budding pop stars had released their second album. these adorable freckle-faced twins weren't singing songs of love but songs of hate. ♪ a holy creed of racial purpose is a mighty race to defend ♪ >> reporter: now at age 19, the young duo formerly known as prussian blue say they've changed their neo-nazi ways. saying to abc news, "i'm grown up now. i was a little kid back then and said a lot of things i don't believe in now." the girls say moving to montana

and attending public school has truly opened their eyes and given them new perspectives on life. "my sister and i were home-schooled. we were these country bumpkins. it makes me proud of humanity every day that we have so many different places and people." it's a far cry from 14-year-old lynx who shuddered at the thought of diversity. >> we don't want it. just b ba big muddle. we just want to preserve our race. >> reporter: the twins say they're quite liberal now, embracing medical marijuana after lynx was diagnosed with cancer freshman year and lamb sought relief from back pain and scoliosis. for lynx and lamb, grooming into white supremacy started at birth. they were nurtured on racist beliefs by their mother april, who is unapologetic about her parenting and her beliefs. >> we were christians, they would be singing christian rock songs. but we're not, we're white nationalists. so of course that's a part of our life and i'm -- i share that part of my life with my children. >> reporter: but today, april believes the girls are just falling into peer pressure.

they're saying what everyone wants to hear so they won't be harassed anymore. let's face it, it's not popular to be a white separatist. and they want to be popular. the girls, however, say this is who they are. and that time, experience, and love has changed them for the better. lamb says, we just want to come from a place of light and love. i think we're meant to do something more. we're healers. we just want to exert the most love and positivity we can. >> you have to worry about backlash. they're saying there's dangerous people in white nationalism, they would do awful things to people they think betrayed the movement. they're worried about some backlash. >> it definitely goes to show when you grow and up start to develop your own idea about thingsgss opposed to being little girls who were maybe doing what they were told and getting involved in something they didn't understand the full scope of. >> the strong influence of parenting and the strong influence of life once you get out of that bubble. deep story. we'll lighten the mood a little bit when we come back. we need to. coming up, the "grey's anatomy" star and why he's going to rehab

for just a week. >> does that work, just one week, git'er done? >> i don't know, fast food re b rehab. >> also a big stink, so to speak, involving britney spears. good thing "the skinny" is not airing on smell-o-vision.

and time now for "the skinny" this morning. little steamy.the skinny" with a we're talking about mcsteamy. >> sorry, ladies. >> first there was mcdcdamy and of course eric dane who is known as mcsteamy for obvious reasons because he's super-hot. he apparently has a problem with painkillers. is it hot in here? here he is right there. he's going to go to rehab for one week. he's taking some time off while they are not shooting the show "grey's anatomy." he's going to get help with painkillers which a lot of the country has an issue with pain killers. it's a big issue. >> massive issue, yeah. >> it's a really big issue. so he's going to an l.a. rehab clinic. he says he's checked herself in to get off the pain medication that he was prescribed for a sports injury that he suffered on hiatus.

>> just a week? i didn't know you could specify going into rehab how long it would take -- i thought when you're good you can get back out. now i in addition to be out by saturday, going to vegas. >> fix me and send me home in about 20 minutes. drive-through rehab, perhaps. >> the hollywood way. we've all talked about the messy split between j. lo and marc anthony. >> much speculation. >> a lot of detail starting to spill out now. the interesting thing here is j. lo's mom, according to "us weekly," guadalupe rodriguez reached out to guess who, j. lo's former fiance ben affleck. mom was always fond of ben and reached out to him over e-mail. this is what multiple sources have told "us weekly." sources say she wanted advice for jennifer. she always liked and trusted ben. he replied backn an e-mail, wished her well, offered what he could. messy details coming out about the marriage making marc anthony look bad. saying he was jealous and controlling, heated fights, just messy. now it's over. but mom reaching out to the ex-man which is an interesting move. >> i have no inside scoop on

this but i would be really mad if my mom were to e-mail an ex and say -- i would imagine that would make me very upset. we're hearing j. lo is very upset. >> bend it, no. you know what i mean? >> does guadalupe know ben's married and has two kids? let's talk about britney. we haven't talked about britney in quite a long time. apparently there's a stinky problem going on with britney spears. earlier today, one of britney's formerly employed bodyguards has released a statement saying basically she e s completely lewd and unhygienic in front of him, very disturbing for this person. specifically, he's alleging she blatantly picked her nose, he fused to shower sometimes for three to four days at a time, did not brush her teeth, also had a big flatulence problem. >> you're so polite, so polite. poor britney, man, leave britney alone, everybody gets a little gassy. >> remember when she went to the gas station with no shoes on in the bathroom? >> that was a low point. all right. real quick here. will and kate doing their whirlwind north american tour. apparently they flew home on

british airways, public flight, they got reimbursed 300 bucks because their entertainment system actually broke during the flight. they got reimbursed 300 bucks. he money. how do u get your bounce?

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front to back. with tones and highlights. it's foamtastic! home haircolor, make room for foam haircolor! new nice 'n easy colorblend foam. your right color. here are some stories to watch today on abc news. espn is reporting that the nfl labor deal could be approved very soon. it would take a majority vote of the players to ratify the deal and that could happen as soon as today. recovery crews at yosemite national park will return to the raging river near a waterfall to search for three missing tourists. they were swept away when they got too close to that waterfall. >> as the final shuttle mission comes to a close at kennedy space center, it will be a bittersweet moment for nasa as "atlantis" lands and astronauts say good-bye, many laid-off workers will also be saying good-bye to their jobs.

>> end of an era happening this morning. we will be watching that closely. finally before this week, wendi deng was known as the wife of billionaire rupert murdoch. that was before the smack heard round the world. >> she's quick, man. >> she used to play volleyball, we can tell. >> she spiked that dude. now she is a global sensation for taking a swing at her husband's would-be attacker. is it something every spouse would do? with the answer here is abc's bianna golodryga. >> reporter: who needs a bodyguard when your wife can do this? the shaving cream pie rocketing straight for billionaire rupert murdoch's head. his wife to the rescue. the right hook seen around the world. she was even faster than the police officer. you can see him running in on your right. jimmy kimmel with a different angle. the wife beating everyone, from the queen to spongebob, to the hamburglar. laughing aside, don't mess with her. 38 years his junior, rupert murdoch's third wife is a former volleyball champ. even late night imagining what else she's capable of.

and today across america, the inevitable question. would your wife do the same? >> she would take a pie for me and not rupert murdoch. i'm good with that. >> i don't know if i would freeze or maybe my automatic reaction would be to defend him. >> i think she should protect me. you know? >> are you offended? >> a little bit. >> if this was your kid or even a pair of nice shoes? what do you think? >> you brought in the nice shoes. of course i'd go and defend them. >> reporter: the wives who would are flocking to facebook by the thousands. wendi has a new fan page growing almost as fast as her right hook. bianna golodryga, abc news, new york. >> she's famously known for the right hook. also she came over as a young student and lived with a family who took her in to teach her english and ended up marrying the husband in that family. she does have a past. >> they have two daughters together, wendi and murdoch. 10 and 8 years old, two kids. hihidivorce from his second wife cost him almost $2 billion, the most expensive divorce on

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